Around The NHL Discussion 2018-2019 - Part II

[Falco Lombardi]

I still don’t understand why some Defensemen think it’s ok to push the opposition into their own goalie. The goalie is almost always in a vulnerable position.

There’s nothing in hockey that frustrates me more.

D-man pushes the forward into the net and then almost immediately everyone jumps the guy as if he did something wrong

 

[542365]

Rattie back on waivers I thought he was going to score 70 on McDavid's wing. f***ing Oilers fans obsession with their dime a dozen players.

 

[wannabebluesplayer]

Rattie back on waivers I thought he was going to score 70 on McDavid's wing. ****ing Oilers fans obsession with their dime a dozen players.

Think if McDavid would have been drafted by a better run team? My gawd.

 

[tfriede2]

Oilers place rattie and spooner on waivers. They basically turned eberle into nothing (actually, potentially dead cap space). Can’t believe we’re still having this conversation about the oilers - what are we on, year 7 of their rebuild?

What could have been for them if they had kept Hall and Eberle. Huge hindsight, but even more of they hadn’t traded the 16th overall for career AHL’er Reinhardt and instead picked the guy who was selected at 16 - Barzal, and if they had selected Tkachuk over Puljujarvi. Imagine the following lineup:
Hall-McDavid-Tkatchuk
Eberle-Barzal-pick a player
Pick a player - Draisatl-RNH
Of course, their d-corps would still suck.

They have 3 legitimate d-men, 2 great centers and one very good center...and that’s it. After having 4 1st overall picks and two other top 5 picks, and another top 10 pick over the last 8 years or so.

Perfect storm of bad luck (Yakupov, MPS, and potentially Puljujarvi - they weren’t viewed as bad picks at the time; plus Lucic turning into a horrific player at age 29), bad trades (Eberle for Strome for Spooner; Hall for Larsson, 16th overall for Reinhardt), and bad roster management. It’s unbelievable that they still don’t have a legit top 6 winger (I view Draisatl as a center), and no #1 d-man. What a wreck, with no end in sight.

 

[BlueDream]

Oilers place rattie and spooner on waivers. They basically turned eberle into nothing (actually, potentially dead cap space). Can’t believe we’re still having this conversation about the oilers - what are we on, year 7 of their rebuild?

What could have been for them if they had kept Hall and Eberle. Huge hindsight, but even more of they hadn’t traded the 16th overall for career AHL’er Reinhardt and instead picked the guy who was selected at 16 - Barzal, and if they had selected Tkachuk over Puljujarvi. Imagine the following lineup:
Hall-McDavid-Tkatchuk
Eberle-Barzal-pick a player
Pick a player - Draisatl-RNH
Of course, their d-corps would still suck.

They have 3 legitimate d-men, 2 great centers and one very good center...and that’s it. After having 4 1st overall picks and two other top 5 picks, and another top 10 pick over the last 8 years or so.

Perfect storm of bad luck (Yakupov, MPS, and potentially Puljujarvi - they weren’t viewed as bad picks at the time; plus Lucic turning into a horrific player at age 29), bad trades (Eberle for Strome for Spooner; Hall for Larsson, 16th overall for Reinhardt), and bad roster management. It’s unbelievable that they still don’t have a legit top 6 winger (I view Draisatl as a center), and no #1 d-man. What a wreck, with no end in sight.

Longer than that. Technically it started back in 2007. We're in 2019 now and they have McDavid and Draisaitl surrounded by literal AHL talent.

 

[tfriede2]

Longer than that. Technically it started back in 2007. We're in 2019 now and they have McDavid and Draisaitl surrounded by literal AHL talent.

I thought it was longer. Good God.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Rattie back on waivers I thought he was going to score 70 on McDavid's wing. ****ing Oilers fans obsession with their dime a dozen players.

I wonder what Rattie thought when they hired Hitchcock. That may have been bad for his NHL career.

 

[Blueston]

I wonder what Rattie thought when they hired Hitchcock. That may have been bad for his NHL career.

Rattie has been bad for Rattie's NHL career.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Rattie has been bad for Rattie's NHL career.

I won’t argue that, but he looked like a pre-season all star not long ago. Hiring a coach that already knows him well and doesn’t have a high opinion of him had to hurt his chances of sticking longer. Hitch literally called him “Number 12” at one of the first post-game pressers.

 

[Blueston]

I won’t argue that, but he looked like a pre-season all star not long ago. Hiring a coach that already knows him well and doesn’t have a high opinion of him had to hurt his chances of sticking longer. Hitch literally called him “Number 12” at one of the first post-game pressers.

Guys who shy away from contact and don't go to dirty areas always look better in preseason bc (unless you are Tom Wilson) there is less hitting.

He hasn't had a goal in over 2 months (and only 2 all season). Half of his 6 assists came in 1 game. If his success is dependent on having a coach who hasn't figured out that he isn't very good that doesn't seem like a sustainable career plan.

 

[Oberyn]

I wonder what Rattie thought when they hired Hitchcock. That may have been bad for his NHL career.

Not sure about HF policy on profanity in pictures so let me know if this isn't appropriate. Below was a post on Reddit when Hitchcock got hired by the Oilers. The user is from Airdrie (where Rattie grew up) and has friends who are close with Rattie. I believe he's posted multiple stories about Rattie and how his constant partying was having a negative effect on his career, and how he put in a lot of work over the past offseason to secure a spot next to McDavid on the top line.

Edit: Profanity behind spoiler

Spoiler

 

[bleedblue1223]

Not sure about HF policy on profanity in pictures so let me know if this isn't appropriate. Below was a post on Reddit when Hitchcock got hired by the Oilers. The user is from Airdrie (where Rattie grew up) and has friends who are close with Rattie. I believe he's posted multiple stories about Rattie and how his constant partying was having a negative effect on his career, and how he put in a lot of work over the past offseason to secure a spot next to McDavid on the top line.

View attachment 178067

Wow, bet that happens to a lot of busts. Some players can rely on skill in the juniors, but never develop the work ethic needed for the pros. Maybe he deserves some credit for realizing he needs to work in the off-season, but too little too late.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Not sure about HF policy on profanity in pictures so let me know if this isn't appropriate. Below was a post on Reddit when Hitchcock got hired by the Oilers. The user is from Airdrie (where Rattie grew up) and has friends who are close with Rattie. I believe he's posted multiple stories about Rattie and how his constant partying was having a negative effect on his career, and how he put in a lot of work over the past offseason to secure a spot next to McDavid on the top line.

View attachment 178067

Thanks for sharing. I take it with a grain of salt, but its totally plausible.

I don't lay the blame for any of this with Hitchcock, btw. I just think Rattie may have stuck out the year with a different coach who needed more time to form an opinion of him. On the other hand, if Rattie learned to play the way Hitchcock demands, he would probably be able to carve out an NHL career as an effective bottom 6 player. As it is, I don't think he has many chances left. There aren't many teams that need top 6 wingers as badly as Edmonton, and he can't even stick there.

 

[mk80]

For the bad moves that Armstrong has made, at least we know it could be a lot worse when looking at Chiarelli and the Oilers.

 

[Saint Loser]

Longer than that. Technically it started back in 2007. We're in 2019 now and they have McDavid and Draisaitl surrounded by literal AHL talent.

Yep!

They handled Cogliano (2005 draft) well with two years in college post-draft, but the shit show started in 2007 with Gagner.

2007 Gagner was thrown to the wolves immediately and never fully developed. I was a huge fan of Sam Gagner and he was actually starting to put it all together during the lockout season. What a shame?! He could have been a great player and now has a bad rep for how crappy his management has been.

2008 They did ok with managing Eberle,
2009 Paajarvi was a draft whiff.
2010 Hall was rushed, but turned out pretty good and traded for a sub-par D-man.
2011 RNH was rushed and has not fully developed and Kelfbom was definitely rushed.
2012 Yakupov was rushed and also a draft whiff.
2013 Nurse is not bad, but rushed.

etc etc

 

[EastonBlues22]

Not sure about HF policy on profanity in pictures so let me know if this isn't appropriate. Below was a post on Reddit when Hitchcock got hired by the Oilers. The user is from Airdrie (where Rattie grew up) and has friends who are close with Rattie. I believe he's posted multiple stories about Rattie and how his constant partying was having a negative effect on his career, and how he put in a lot of work over the past offseason to secure a spot next to McDavid on the top line.

Edit: Profanity behind spoiler

Spoiler

View attachment 178067

We don't generally want it visible in images. It's censored for a reason.

You can put it behind spoiler tags with a warning, if you think it otherwise contributes to the discussion.

 

[Oberyn]

We don't generally want it visible in images. It's censored for a reason.

You can put it behind spoiler tags with a warning, if you think it otherwise contributes to the discussion.

Ah I should have thought of using a spoiler tag, thanks for editing it and duly noted.

 

[Eldon Reid]

Chiarelli at it once again.

Today Ryan Spooner is on waivers.

Traded Eberle for Ryan Strome. Then traded Ryan Strome for Ryan Spooner. So essentially got nothing for Eberle

Now they give Mikko Koskinen a 3 year extension at 4.5 mill AAV after 25 games this season (Career total of 29 NHL games)...

How this guy still has a job is beyond me unless you want your team destroyed.

 

[simon IC]

Minnesota just picked up Brad Hunt. They should pair him with Spurgeon!

 

[Thallis]

Rattie back on waivers I thought he was going to score 70 on McDavid's wing. ****ing Oilers fans obsession with their dime a dozen players.

He looked like he belonged until Hitchcock came in. Nobody thought he was going to score 70, they just hoped a young guy was turning the corner. It was obvious this would happen when Hitch got brought in.

 

[Blueston]

I like the Athletic, but I just wish they had more Leafs coverage. It's really not fair that nearly half of their articles at least mention some other team.

 

[Dbrownss]

Joe Pavelski has 27 goals........

I honestly feel we should drop the whole gotta sell players before their 30s because the decline will kills us. Great players remain great players.

 

[LetsGoBooze]

Joe Pavelski has 27 goals........

I honestly feel we should drop the whole gotta sell players before their 30s because the decline will kills us. Great players remain great players.

I think it really just depends on skillset. A Pavelski-type player will almost always age better than a Backes-type. To me it should always be case by case.

 

[Vincenzo Arelliti]

I think it really just depends on skillset. A Pavelski-type player will almost always age better than a Backes-type. To me it should always be case by case.

Pavelski is very similar to Schwartz.

 

[Blueston]

Pavelski is very similar to Schwartz.

Not seeing it. Pavelski is master of tip and deflection. JS seems to drive line more and score off transition.